Coming back to his senses from the embrace filled with the scent of milk, Roman silently covered his face, saying nothing.
Too embarrassing.
At this moment, the shy Roman was carried by Lady Catherine and nestled into her soft, tender lap.
Lady Catherine ran her hand through Roman’s smooth silver hair, her beautiful eyes glinting with amusement as she smiled teasingly at him.
“All right, all right, it’s perfectly normal to be jealous. Why so shy?”
Roman sat on Lady Catherine’s lap, his smooth, jade-like legs exposed. Due to his emotions, they were slightly pressed together, forming a subtle pigeon-toed stance.
“Besides,” Lady Catherine wrapped Roman’s shoulders tighter and moved closer, trapping one of his arms against her bosom, chuckling softly, “I’m actually quite happy that you have these feelings because of your mother.”
“You still keep teasing me,” Roman murmured in complaint.
Though he spoke, his hands still cupped his cheeks, avoiding eye contact with Lady Catherine.
“Okay~ It’s all my fault~”
Lady Catherine whispered as she leaned in closer to Roman’s cheek, her voice soft and alluring, inching ever nearer.
“I’ll personally apologize to my darling.”
Then she gently planted a ‘pop’ on Roman’s ear.
Roman’s earlobe instantly flushed a visible shade of red, showing just how sensitive he was by nature.
“Still haven’t forgiven mommy?”
Lady Catherine teased, shaking Roman playfully.
Recalling Roman’s scrunched-up face and ambiguous questions from moments ago made her smile.
Her beautiful eyes flicked knowingly as she continued by Roman’s ear, “How about this? From now on, you can come to my room every day to help me pick out clothes. Whatever you want me to wear, I’ll wear. That way, you won’t be unhappy anymore, right?”
Roman’s heartbeat quickened, and the hands cupping his cheeks noticeably stiffened—a clear sign that he was truly moved…
Lady Catherine blinked her lovely eyes, half-smiling, “So it’s a deal then?”
When she said that, she couldn’t help but swallow hard but managed to hide it.
“As for now…”
Lady Catherine rubbed her chin against Roman’s cheek, wearing an expression of contentment.
“Let mommy hold you and rest for a while. After talking so long, you must have a dry throat.”
Roman quietly lowered his hands and took in the proximity of Lady Catherine’s face.
Her long eyelashes almost brushed his skin.
There was the lingering scent—the natural fragrance of Lady Catherine herself mingled with the rich aroma of perfume.
The feeling of their bodies pressed so closely together was utterly dreamlike.
After a long while, Lady Catherine finally released Roman, setting him down by her bent legs.
Every time she held Roman between her knees like this, she admired the graceful swing of his slender, toned calves in the air.
The more she looked, the more she adored him, as if gazing upon a piece of art.
The sun was setting in the west; everything was so beautiful.
Yet, fate was so terrifying because you never knew when a sudden change would occur.
“Hmm…”
Lady Catherine suddenly furrowed her brows, lowering her head, her expression darkening.
Her eyes glazed over as she instinctively touched the spot on her chest, a flicker of fear appearing in her gaze.
Is it coming? she thought in confusion.
Why so soon… and so suddenly?
No matter how knowledgeable and resilient Lady Catherine was, she was still human—flesh and blood.
All humans have negative emotions; some just manage them better than others.
Lady Catherine had faced her Curse with a calm mind, only hoping to live each remaining day meaningfully.
But when the Curse truly flared up, her first reaction was an indescribable panic.
This was human nature. Once there’s something you care for, you inevitably become vulnerable.
As for Luo Xiya, she had made all the necessary arrangements and was mentally prepared.
But for Roman… there were still many regrets left unfulfilled.
She had yet to see with her own eyes Roman and Luo Xiya, her two most beloved children, walk into the pure white chapel together.
She had yet to witness Roman truly surpass her, reaching the Sanctuary and fulfilling her aspirations for the Extraordinary Realm.
Just now, she and Roman had made a promise.
Not even reaching the first step tomorrow, the Negative Emotion Devourer shattered her mental defenses, accelerating the curse’s rampage.
This startled Roman, who quickly moved forward to hold Lady Catherine’s waist.
With his magic circuits fully engaged, he enveloped her body.
Looking closely at Lady Catherine, her smooth forehead was now covered in sweat, her long lashes fluttering restlessly with her movements.
A grayish black aura shrouded Lady Catherine’s body, visibly devouring the last remnants of her life before Roman’s eyes.
“It’s okay, it’s okay…”
Roman held Lady Catherine tightly, resting his head on her shoulder as he whispered comforting words.
“Sob sob.”
A moist touch came from his shoulder—that was Lady Catherine’s tears falling.
Accompanied by helpless, desperate sobbing.
Roman’s whole heart trembled with her painful cries.
If there had been a mirror in front of him, Roman would have been shocked at his expression.
It was almost exactly the same as when he had stabbed those two scoundrels before.
But this time… what he faced was not scoundrels who could be killed with his Butterfly Knife, but an invisible, intangible Curse…
Lady Catherine hugged him tightly in return.
She gradually calmed down, no longer sobbing, instead gently stroking Roman’s shoulder with a look of reassurance.
Roman understood what this expression meant. It was the same peaceful look Lady Catherine had worn when he took the poison to attempt suicide.
Anger surged in his chest. Roman closed his eyes and stopped using the Sacred Seal to release Healing magic.
Mom was suffering so much and so scared—how could he allow this so-called Curse to continue!
Deprivation.
Disintegration.
Purification.
***
More refined concepts flashed through his mind.
With his current magic level, using such refined concepts was risky, but he no longer cared.
Pure magic once again enveloped Lady Catherine’s body.
This time, he distinctly felt resistance.
The previous Healing had only helped Lady Catherine recover from physical exhaustion.
But organs have limits.
After the repeated tug-of-war with the Curse, Lady Catherine was barely holding on.
So this time, his target was the Curse hiding inside her body.
He would fight it to the end, determined to completely eliminate it.